Chapter 1 Zhou Yi Was Right

Zhou Yi was right; Yan Min was indeed a national team "intern."

After Sun Pan rejoined the team, the Chinese team conducted its final preparations for the match against Oman. In the team training matches, it was already clear which players would be in the starting lineup for the upcoming game against Oman.

Yan Min was not among them.

The starting lineup that Gao Hongbo arranged was basically the same as before. All five of the overseas-returned players started, even Sun Pan, who had just arrived in Oman three days prior and might not have even adjusted to the time difference.

Since unexpectedly losing to Qatar at home, the Chinese team's points had stagnated. On March 26th, the day of the World Cup qualifiers, China had a bye, and Japan defeated Qatar 2-1 on the road, increasing their points from eight to eleven, surpassing China's ten points and becoming the group leader.

If the Chinese team lost to Oman away, the situation would become even more unfavorable.

Although the Chinese team still had a five-point advantage over Oman, who ranked third, if they lost to Oman, Oman's points would become eight, and China would only lead by two points.

For Oman, it would be within striking distance.

Moreover, for Gao Hongbo, if he could lead the Chinese team to defeat Oman away, then no matter what the result of the match between Japan and Australia was, the Chinese team would secure a spot in the World Cup in advance. Currently, China had ten points, ranking second in the group, while Oman, ranked third, had five points. If China defeated Oman, they would have thirteen points, and Oman would still have five points, resulting in a point difference of eight. Even if Australia defeated Japan, their points would become six, surpassing Oman to become third in the group, China would still have a seven-point difference with Australia. With two remaining group matches, even if China lost all of them and Australia won all of them, it would be impossible for Australia to surpass China, so China would essentially qualify in advance.

Therefore, this was a match that absolutely could not be lost.

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Before this match, China was also highly concerned.

After all, if the Chinese team could defeat Oman, they would secure a spot in the World Cup finals with two games to spare.

The Chinese team's ability to once again break into the World Cup finals after the 2001 Top Ten Tournament had always been a dream for Chinese fans.

Now, this dream finally had a chance to come true.

Everyone was discussing this match.

Some people even brought out the "destiny theory," believing that Oman was China's "lucky enemy." This term was a bit strange. Everyone knew what a "deputy general" was, but what the heck was a "lucky enemy"?

Twelve years ago, during the 2001 Top Ten Tournament, when there were only three rounds left, the Chinese team's situation was surprisingly similar to the present, or even a bit better than the current Chinese team. At that time, the Chinese team only needed to draw with their opponent in Shenyang to qualify in advance.

And that opponent was Oman!

Yes, the exact same opponent as now.

On October 7, 2001, the Chinese team defeated Oman 1-0 at the Shenyang Wulihe Stadium with a goal from Yu Genwei, securing a spot in the 2002 Japan-Korea World Cup with two rounds to spare.

Twelve years later, when the Chinese team once again stood at the crossroads of qualifying in advance, their opponent was still Oman.

Was this a fateful coincidence?

Twelve years ago, the Chinese team could withstand the enormous pressure to defeat Oman and qualify in advance. Twelve years later, could the Chinese team also withstand the enormous pressure to defeat Oman and qualify in advance?

In recent days, all kinds of reports and speculations about this match had been circulating in China.

Chinese fans were both expectant and nervous.

The expectation was easy to understand.

The nervousness stemmed from the worry that China's "excellent tradition" of dropping the ball at crucial moments would come into play again...

In addition, this was, after all, an away game. Who knew what extent Oman would exploit their "home advantage"...

Some people had even thought of a way out in advance—even if they couldn't win, it didn't matter, as long as they didn't lose. If the Chinese team could draw with Oman away, there would still be hope for qualifying with the remaining two games.

But who were the remaining two opponents?

One was Japan, and the other was Australia, and the match against Australia was a long and arduous away game, so the outcome was uncertain. If the hope of qualifying was pinned on these two games, it might not be a good thing for the Chinese team.

Therefore, the best way to qualify was to defeat Oman.

Before the match, when the Chinese team's players were interviewed by reporters, they were also asked about the issue of qualifying in advance.

"I'm not thinking about so much, just focusing on playing each game well," Hao Junmin said modestly. He didn't talk rashly about qualifying, seemingly hoping to reduce the pressure.

However, Sun Pan didn't think so: "Qualifying in advance? Of course! Of course, we have to qualify in advance! If we can't qualify with things as they are, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?"

He answered very confidently, and his words were very definitive.

But this was his style. Back in the Olympic team, he bet with the South Korean Olympic team that if he let them score a goal, he would eat sh*t live on camera. He also spoke very definitively then, but in the end, he really did what he said and didn't let the South Korean team score a goal.

Zhou Yi, as the core of the Chinese team, his attitude was between Sun Pan and Hao Junmin. He neither avoided the topic nor was he conceited. He also showed respect for Oman as an opponent.

"After all, this is Oman's home field. Talking too much about qualifying in advance is a bit disrespectful to our opponents. We respect them very much, so we will go all out in the match. As for qualifying in advance? That's just a bonus."

"Will there be pressure?" a reporter asked.

"Of course, there will be, but isn't that what professional players are supposed to face?" Zhou Yi shrugged, not taking the pressure too seriously.

Zhou Yi seemed very calm, but the fans and reporters couldn't stay calm.

They were all very excited.

Online discussions were all about qualifying in advance.

Many people had already begun to imagine what the Chinese team would do in the World Cup, what opponents they would encounter, what ranking they would achieve, whether they could break the embarrassing record of their last World Cup appearance, whether they could score goals, whether they could get points, whether they could...make it to the knockout stage?

These were all topics of heated discussion.

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China placed great importance on this match, but relatively speaking, the atmosphere was still relaxed. After all, Oman was the weakest of the remaining three opponents.

Beating Oman was easier than beating Japan and Australia, right?

But Oman didn't see it that way. While the Chinese team was single-mindedly trying to step on them to qualify in advance, Oman wasn't just a fish on the chopping board waiting to be slaughtered.

They also wanted to defeat the Chinese team here in their home stadium.

Because they also had a World Cup dream.

Oman had performed well in this Top Ten Tournament.

After five rounds of matches, they had five points, ranking third in the group. Originally, everyone thought they would be at the bottom of the group, but unexpectedly, Australia was now at the bottom...

This match was a direct dialogue between the second and third-ranked teams in the group. If Oman could defeat the Chinese team, they would have eight points, and the Chinese team would have ten points. Then maybe they really would have a chance.

Of course, the Chinese team still had two matches to play, while Oman only had one match left.

But who were the Chinese team's next two opponents?

Japan at home, and Australia away.

Oman was playing against Qatar away.

It wasn't like there was no chance at all.

Besides, even if China ultimately secured direct qualification, eight points could help Oman consolidate their third-place position in the group and then participate in the playoffs.

That was better than being completely dead after this match, right?

Why did Oman think they could defeat the Chinese team?

First of all, this was their home stadium, and the home advantage was very strong. Qatar defeated the Chinese team in their last away match, so why couldn't they defeat them at home?

Secondly, although the Chinese team had overseas-returned players to help, they had just gone through a European season, playing dozens of high-intensity matches. Without even a rest period, they came directly to Oman to prepare for this match. How much had their stamina recovered? How good could their condition be?

Third, in the first match between the two sides in the Top Ten Tournament, although Oman was playing away, they were not at all at a disadvantage against the Chinese team, and ultimately only lost by one goal, almost taking a point away from the Chinese team's home stadium.

Therefore, Oman had a basis for their goal of defeating the Chinese team at home, and it wasn't wishful thinking.

If they did a better job with their home-field operations, then their chances of victory would be even greater...